Misty Noel guilty plea could be set aside after she said she didn't 'knowingly' commit crimes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A judge could set aside last week's guilty plea by the wife of former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel as a result of remarks she made in a recent television interview.

Special Judge Larry Medlock ruled Monday that Misty Noel's comments in television news interviews last week amounted to her "telling the world that she did not 'knowingly and intentionally' commit the crime of theft.

"The Court cannot find an individual guilty if they profess and maintain their innocence," Medlock wrote, saying that a jury will instead have to make that determination.

As a result, he wrote, he will hold a hearing to throw out the guilty plea and set a trial date.

Defense attorney Bart McMahon hasn't responded to a request for comment.

Misty Noel pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts of theft and five counts of tax evasion, the original charges filed against her.

At the hearing in May, the prosecution and defense presented a conditional plea deal. As part of the plea deal, Misty Noel would plead guilty, repay $660,806.64 in restitution to New Chapel EMS and $29,547 to the Indiana Department of Revenue, and serve up to six years — 18 months in prison followed by 4.5 years of probation.

After accepting Misty Noel's plea deal last week, Medlock called the case "an assault on the trusting citizens of Clark County."

At Jamey Noel's sentencing last October, he said his family, including his wife, had no idea of his illegal activity. Jamey Noel was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution after pleading guilty to 27 felonies for theft, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, money laundering, corrupt business influence and official misconduct.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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